Today’s tip: Collaboration creates opportunities and engagement that molds adult parishioners
The typical local family party. You got the drink coolers, food tables and designated eating places … the kid’s table and the adult’s table. If you agree, then I’m going to wager that you remember trying to go from the kid’s table to the adult’s table. Sometimes “young adult” tables/rooms were initiated, but only because young adults didn’t feel welcomed at the adult table.
This is the reality of our parish families and the goal of ministry with young adults. Every parish needs a system to transition young adults from the kid’s table of religious education and youth ministry to the adult’s table of adult faith formation, social ministry, finance, building and pastoral councils, etc.
It may be a young adult ministry (older cousins) that creates opportunities for young adults to get involved with parish ministries and activities (table discussion), but it’s going to take a collaborative effort of the young adult ministry with all other parish ministries (everyone at the adult table) to make the successful transition of young adults into the full “discussion.” This way we truly gather everyone at the dinner table.
Makana Aiona is the diocesan coordinator for Young Adult Ministry.